Retort clean-out machine



May 21, 1935. H, R. MacMlcHAEL RETORT CLEAN-OUT MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 29, 1952 wkhukhi ATTORNEYS May 21, 1935.

H. R. MaCMlCHAEL RETORT CLEAN-OUT MACHINE Filed July 29, 1932 6Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 21, 1935. H. R. MaCMiCHAEL2,001,881

RETORT CLEANOUT MACHINE Filed July 29, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 will,

. A INVENTOR @ggf/z Z? afzafl @,ZQA g ATTORNEYS May 2l, 1935. H. R.MacMlcHAEL. 2,001,881

RETORT CLEAN-OUT MACHINE Filed July 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORATTORN EYS May 21, 1935- H. R. MacMlcHAEl. 2,001,881

RETORT CLEAN-OUT MACHINE Filed July 29, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 1H/gafATTORNEYS May 21, 1935 H. R. MacMlcHAEL 2,001,881

RETORT CLEAN- OUT MACHINE Filed July 29, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Mm n N b.1 INVENTOR $10 Zffq/Vardf/ man ATTQRNEYS Patented May 2.1, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENTN OFFICE RETORT CLEAN -OUT MACHINE Application July 29,1932,A Serial No. 625,736

7 Claims. (Cl. 214-24) The invention relates to apparatus for operatingupon furnaces and the like, and more particularly to apparatus forcleaning zinc furnaces.

According to one form which the invention may assume, the apparatus maycomprise a carriage adapted to move along the frontof a zinc furnace andcarrying tools for operating upon the several retorts of the furnace.The carriage may support an elevator device, which in turn malys supporta carrier which carries the several too Suitable means may be providedfor driving the carriage back and forth along the front of the furnace.Additional apparatus may be provided for raising the elevator device upand down and further apparatus may be provided for driving the carriertoward and away from the furnace so that the several tools may enter thevarious retorts for operating thereupon. All of these driving apparatusmay be under the control of a single operator, if desired.

Although different tools may be used, for purposes of illustration, adrag tool is taken having a substantially vertical blade with a curvedlower edge and mounted upon the end of a long shaft, the other end ofwhich is mounted on the carrier by suitable spring devices. If desired,suitable cooling means may be provided for cooling the tools and shafts.If desired, the mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator deviceand for moving the carrier toward and away from the furnace may behydraulically operated. Water pressure may be supplied by a suitablecentrifugal pump operated by avmotor on the machine.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combimtions of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularlypointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is aVertical elevation illustrating the relation of the clean-out machineand the zinc retort furnace;

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation taken on section 3-3 of Fig. 2 of themachine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation;

Fig. 4 represents a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective illustrating the hydraulic ropeoperating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail with parts broken away show- 5 ing the mounting ofthe tools on the carrier;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the carrier;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill- I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is aperspective illustrating the construction of the elevatordevice; and l0 Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate two of the valves employed forcontrolling the operation of the machine.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will beidentified by specific names 15 for convenience, but they are intendedto be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming 20 part of this specification,certain specic disclosure of the invention is made for purposes ofexplanation, but it will be understood that the de tails may be modifiedin various respects without departure from the broad aspect of theinvention. 25

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the zincretort furnace used for purpose of illustration is indicated by I0 andcontains a plurality of vertical rows or tiers of retorts indicated byIl. It will be noted that 30 the retorts I I areslightly inclined, aswill be understood by those skilled in the art. This furnace may be ofany desired construction.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, a pair of track rails 23 may be disposedalong the front of the 35 furnace I0 to support a carriage 20 restingupon a pair of I-beams 2l which are supported by four wheels 22 ridingon the rails 23.

'I'he carriage 20 is made up of suitable structural members, the lowerframe members being 40 indicated by 30, these members supportingopposite inclined frame members, indicated by 3l, which in turn supportupper frame members, indicated by 32. The inclined members 3| support anintermediate platform, indicated by |32, 45 which supports the hydraulicand rope mechanisms for operating the carrier 25. The carriage frame 20also supports a tall vertical tank 33 for holding the water for coolingthe tools and for operating the hydraulic mechanism. 50

vertically mounted on the frame 20 is an elevator device 24 (Fig. 11)having vertical guide columns 3l and horizontal frame members 35connecting the vertical columns 34. The inclinedtrack member 36 on whichthe carrier 25 55 rides also connects the vertical columns 34. Thevertical guides 34 slidably fit guides |34 on the carriage frame 20, asillustrated best in Fig. 6.

Mounted on the inclined track 36 is a carrier 25 which supports thecleaning tools 26. As shown best in Figs. 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10, carrier 25is made up of suitable structural members, at the upper ends of whichare disposed two side plates 40 connected by connecting members 4I(Figs. 8, 9 and 10). In these side plates 40 are jour.- nalled fourordinary anged wheels riding on the lower iianges of the inclined I-beamtrack member 36. The wheels 31 also engage rails 38 at the upper sidesthereof, these rails being connected to the I-beam 36 by member 39. Thisconstruction gives stability to the carrier and prevents undue swayingthereof.

The carrier 25 has mounted thereon enough tools for operating upon asingle vertical tier of retorts Il, four being shown for purposes ofillustration. As shown best in Figs. 4 and 8, the tools 26, which aresimilar to drag tools, comprise substantially vertical flanges 42 havingcurved lower edges. These anges are suitably welded or otherwise securedto outer tubular shafts 43 slidably mounted in xed holders 44 and inspring holders 45. Springs 46 are provided for taking up bumpslengthwise of the tool in case the tool accidently engages the end of aretort. rIhe springs of holders 35 take up the up and down bumps andresiliently support the tools so that the weight of the tools iirmlyhold the :flanges :l2 thereof against the bottoms of the retorts forefflcient cleaning and scraping.

For cooling the tools, inner pipes B3 are provided, spaced from thehollow shafts B3 and extending substantially the entire length thereof,

-these pipes being connected to feed branch pipes 50, passing throughfittings '31 connected in the length of shaft 43. Branch outlet pipes'ftare connected to the fittings i? for leading away the heated coolingwater. It will be understood that the branch supply pipes 53 are fedfrom the discharge of the pump and the branch outlet pipes 118 lead tothe coohng tank 33, as will be explained hereinafter more in detail.

For driving the carrier 25 back and forth along the track 36 to causethe tools to enter into and pass out of the retorts, suitable hydraulicand rope mechanisms, shown best in Figs. 3 and 7, are provided.

Mounted upon the platform 132 is a. hydraulic cylinder 55 containing apiston 56 connected to a piston rod 51 which in turn is connected 'tocross head 58. Cross head 58 is suitably guided on the platform |32 androtatably supports sets of cross head sheaves 53 and 60. It will benoted that the carrier drive mechanism is not mounted upon the elevator24, but is mounted directly on the frame 20 of the carriage. This ispermissible since the movement oi the elevator is quite small and it isdesirable not to have to raise and lower this additional operating mech-If desired, this operating mechanism may, of course, be mounted drectlyon the elevator device 24.

For moving the carrier 25 toward the furnace, xed sheaves 66,cooperating with the set of movable sheaves 63, are provided. The rope51 passes around the sheaves 50 and 66 and is xed at one end to thecarrier 25 at 68, and at the other end to the frame at 69. In order toavoid too great a tension on the rope 61, the rope is passed over asafety pulley 1I, and over a fixed pulley 10. Safety pulley 1I ismounted on a cross head 12 which slides between ways 13. Tension ismaintained in the rope 61 by a counterweight 16 connected to the crosshead 12 by rope 89 and passing over fixed pulleys 15. A movable electriccontact 11 is carried by cross head 12 adapted to contact with a fixedelectrical contact 18 if excessive tension in rope 31 is obtained, theengagement of these contacts' operating the circuit breaker of the motorwhich drives the centrifugal pump supplying the cylinder 55, as will beexplained hereinafter more in detail.

For withdrawing the tools out of the furnace, a movable set of sheaves59 and fixed sheaves 3l are provided, over which rope 32 passes, theends of this rope being secured to carrier 25 at 64 and to the framemember l32 at 65.

It will be noted that 'suicient plies of rope for both movements of thecarrier are provided so that a small movement of piston 56 will cause anincreased movement in the carrier 25. In the form shown six plies areused for each movement, resulting in six times as great amovement forthe carrier 25 as for the piston 56.

For driving the elevator device 2d, water cylinder 30 (Fig. 3) isprovided, mounted upon the upper members 32 of the carriage frame.Cylinder 33 contains piston 3l connected to piston rod 32 which operatesupon a suitable cross head guide 33. Connected to piston 82 are ropes@il and 85, rope 33 passing over fixed pulley 36 and being connected tothe elevator frame at 3l, rope 35 passing over fixed pulleys 83 and H39and being connected to the elevator frame at 33.

For driving the machine along the tracks 23, an electric carriage motorm3 (Figs. l and 2) is provided. This motor drives a gear reducer itiwhich drives a sprocket 102, which in turn drives a sprocket 33 mountedon one of the Wheel shafts through chain 234.

For supplying the coohng water and hydraulic water for operating thecylinders, above described, a second electric motor i3d is mounted onthe frame of the carriage 20 driving centrifugal pump S05 (Fig. 3).Inlet 86 (Fig. 2) is provided from tank 33 to pump H35. Discharge 01from pump |35 leads to the top of the machine from which iiexibleconduit W8 leads to the carrier 25 where it is connected to manifold 238to which the exible branch supply conduits 50 are connected. Thedischarge from the exible branches I3 leads to a manifold similar to238, which in turn is connected by a iiexible conduit E09 to the spraylill (Figs. 1 and 2) which returns the heated water to the tank 33 forcoohng. Y

If desired, all the controls of the various operations are centered onone control board, indicated by 203 (Fig. 2). On this board may beprovided suitable controls, indicated by Ill and H2, for motors 00 and|03. Also suitable valves H3 and H4 may be provided for operatingcylinders 55 and 80. The control of carrier drive cyhnder 55 is by valveH3 (Fig. 13). This valve may be an ordinary four-way valve havingconduit l I6 leading to the discharge of pump E05 and having conduit H1leading either to the tank 33 or to the inlet of the pump. Conduit 2 I4leads to one end of the cylinder 55 and conduit 2 l 5 leads to the otherend of the cylinder. 'I'hus by operating the valve H3, water pressuremay be applied to either end of the cylinder 55 and at the same time'exhaust is applied to the other end.

Control of the elevator cylinder is by valve ||4 (Fig. 12). 'I'his valvemay be an ordinary three-way valve, conduit ||8 leading to the cylinder8|, conduit I9 leading to the discharge side of pump and conduit |20leading either to tank 33 or to the inle't of pump |05. Thus by theoperation of valve ||4, pressure may be applied to the cylinder 80 forraising the elevator device 24 or exhaust may be connected to thecylinder 80 for permitting the elevator device 84 to drop by its ownweight.

For operating the machine, the operator will move the entire machinealong the front of the furnace to get the tools in line with a verticaltier of retorts. The elevator device will then be raised and the carrieroperated to feed the tools into the retorts over the residue and slagindicated for example by I2 in Fig. 1 This tool may be moved to anyintermediate point within the'retort or to the inner end thereof, whenthe elevator will be lowered, causing the tool to yieldably, butforcibly engage the bottom of the retort. Movement of the carrier in theopposite direction will then move the tool outwardly, scraping thebottom of the retort and pulling the material along with it. As abovestated, the tool 26 is a modified form of drag tool but, if desired,other tools may be substituted therefor. The water circulation throughthese tools prevents destruction thereof under the intense heat andscorifying atmosphere.

An advantage of the present machine is that the tool may be fed into anypoint and the stroke of the tool may be of any length. 'I'he tool maypull out both slag and residue, and if material sticks at any point, thetool may be repeatedly moved over that point to free the material.

The flexible mounting of the tools on the carrier permits a forcefulengagement between the tool and the retort and the tool continues toengag'e the retort even if the retort sags. It has been found that thedrag tool alone is very effective when power is put behind it andordinarily it would not be necessary to substitute other tools, such as,chisels and water lances.

If desired, an additional number of tools may be added for operating agreater number of retorts at the same time. For instance, a second tierof tools may be mounted alongside of the tier shown.

The construction of the machine is such that the parts will stand upunder the high temperature and dusty atmospheres met in practice. Theworking parts of the operating cylinders are protected from dust andheat. The wire ropes used for operating the elevator device and carrierwill stand up for long periods. If desired, cooling devices other thanthe spray and tank shown, such as, for instance, a radiator type ofcooling device 1 may be used.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed andare pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood thatvarious omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In apparatus for cleaning furnaces and the like, a tool, a carriertherefor, a support for said carrier, operating mechanism for movingsaid carrier toward and away from said furnace, said operating mechanismcomprising a hydraulic cylinder having a piston and rod, a cross headconnected lto said rod, rst and second sets of sheaves on said crosshead, first and second sets of fixed sheaves, rst and second ropespassing around the respective xed and movable sheaves of each set, eachrope being connected at one end to said support and at the other end tosaid carrier for driving said carrier back and forth, said first ropehaving a safety mechanism comprising a movable pulley over which saidrst rope passes, a guide for said pulley, a counterweight for holdingsaid pulley against the tension of said first rope, contacts engageableby excessive movement of said pulley, a hydraulic pump for supplyingoperating pressure to said cylinder, and a motor driving said pumpcontrolled by said contacts.

2. In an apparatus for cleaning furnaces and the like, a tool, a carriertherefor, a support for said carrier, 'operating mechanism for saidcarrier comprising a set of sheaves, a rope on said sheaves andconnected to said carrier and support, a cylinder and piston arrangementoperating between said sheaves, a safety mechanism comprising a movablepulley over' which the rope passes, a guide for said pulley, acounterpoise for holding said pulley against the tension of said ropeand safety means operable by excessive movement of said pulley forcontrolling said operating mechanism.

3.` In a cleaning mechanism, a bank of retorts arranged in substantiallyvertical tiers, a trackway extending along the front of said retorts, acarriage framework comprising a base member, means for supporting saidbase member for movement along said'trackway, vertical side memberssupported by said base member, said side members being disposed onopposite sides of the trackway, guide members supported by said sidemembers,an elevator comprising vertical slide members cooperating withsaid guide members, and also comprising a track member substantiallyparallel to said retorts, a carrier supported and riding on said trackmember, a plurality of drag tools arranged in a vertical tierforcleaning an entire vertical tier of retorts, there being one tool foreach retort of the vertical tier, means for supporting said tools onsaid carrier, power devices located on said elevator for driving saidcarrier from one side member to the other to cause tools to enter andleave said retorts, power devices located on said carriage framework forimparting a limited vertical movement to said elevator and stop devicesdefining the upper and lower limiting positions of said elevator wherebythe lower position of said drag tools causes them to rest on the bottomsurface of their respective retorts, and the upper position of said dragtools is in line with the free space above the charge in the sameretorts.

4. In a cleaning mechanism, a bank of retorts arranged in substantiallyvertical tiers, a trackway extending along said retorts, a carriagehaving wheels rollable along said trackway, guide members on saidcarriage, an elevator comprising vertical slide members cooperating withsaid guide members, and also comprising a track member substantiallyparallel to said retorts, a carrier riding on said track member, aplurality of vertically arranged drag tools for cleaning an entirevertical tier of retorts, there being one tool for each retort of thevertical tier, means for supporting said tools on said carrier, meansfor driving said carrier to cause said tools to enter and leave saidretorts, independent means for imparting a limited vertical movement tosaid elevator, and stop devices defining the upper and lower limitingpositions of said elevator whereby the lower position of said drag toolscauses them to rest on the bottom surface of their respective retorts,and the upper position of said drag tools is in line with the free spaceabove the charge in the same retorts.

5. In a cleaning mechanism, a bank of retorts arranged in substantiallyvertical tiers, a trackway extending along the front of said retorts, acarriage framework comprising a base member, means for supporting saidbase member for movement along said trackway, inverted V-memberssupported by said base member, said V-members being disposed on oppositesides of the trackway, one of said V-members being disposed in proximityto the bank of retorts, guide members supported by said V-members, anelevator comprising vertical slide members cooperating with said guidemembers, and also comprising an inclined track member substantiallyparallel -to said retorts, a carrier suspended from and riding lon saidtrack member, a plurality of drag toolsf arranged in a vertical tier forcleaning an entire vertical tier of retorts, there being one tool foreach retort of the Vertical tier, means for supporting said toolsexclusively from the ends thereof on said carrier, power devices locatedon said elevator for driving said carrier from one V- member to theother to cause said drag tools to enter and leave said retorts, powerdevices located on the top of said carriage framework for imparting alimited vertical movement to said elevator, said power device havingstops whereby the lower position of said drag tools causes themA to reston the bottom surface of their respective retorts, and the upperposition of said drag tools is in line with the free space above thecharge in the same retorts.

6. In a cleaning mechanism, a substantially horizontal retort, acleaning mechanism comprising a carrier, a tool substantially stationarywith respect to said carrier, said tool comprisinga long shaft having atransverse blade on its projecting end, means for mounting said shafton'said carrier at one end of the shaft only, whereby the tool projectsas a cantilever from said carrier, spring devices between said tool andsaid carrier to permit said tool to yield in case it engages anobstruction, means for imparting a limited vertical movement to saidcarrier, means to move said carrier toward and away from said retort tocause said tool to enter and leave said retort, and stop devices deningthe upper and lower limiting positions of said carrier whereby the lowerposition of said tool causes it to rest on the bottom surface of itsretort and the upper position of said tool is in line with the freespace above the charge in said retort.

7. In a cleaning mechanism, a bank of retorts arranged in substantiallyvertical tiers, a cleaning mechanism comprising a carrier, a pluralityof drag tools arranged in a vertical tier for cleaning an entirelyvertical tier of retorts, there being one tool for each retort of thevertical tier, said tools being substantially stationary with respect tosaid carrier, said tools each comprising a long shaft having atransverse blade on its projecting end, means for mounting said shaftson Asaid carrier. at one end of the shafts only, whereby the toolsproject as cantilevers from said carrier, spring devices between saidtools and said carrier to permit said tools to yield lengthwise andvertically in case they engage an obstruction, means for imparting alimited vertical movement to said carrier, means to move said carriertoward and away from said retorts to cause said tools to enter and leavesaid retorts, and stop devices defining the upper and lower limitingpositions of said carrier whereby the lower position of said toolscauses them to rest on the bottom surface of their respective retortsand the upper position of said tools is in line with the free spaceabove the charge in the same retorts.

HUGH R. MACMICHAEL.

